Disabilities Books

Final Stroke I found the details in this book fascinating. It confirmed much of the research I did for my own book and the experiences I had as a caregiver to a stroke survivor.

Andy McCann was Assistant Headteacher at a secondary school in South Wales. At 37, he was a karate instructor, seemingly fit as a fiddle. Then, he came down with stroke during one of his martial arts classes.

This 3-part book tells Andy's story from his personal discovery (part 1) to recovery (part 3). Part 2 is a content-heavy section that deals with the biological mechanics of stroke. It's a great book - not bestseller material due to the lack of sensationalism but it packs plenty of useful info and honest reporting.

Andy's unpretentious, sometimes humourous style in recounting his personal experiences makes this book an excellent read. It is definitely a book for the intelligent, well-educated and perhaps even discerning reader. Unfortunately, most of the people who suffer from stroke in Singapore will not be able to process and absorb Andy's wealth of info provided in the book. Not being a sensational crusade against the system/medical establishment or the recommendation of some exciting "new treatment", its honest account is unlikely to make it a bestseller.

It is obvious that the author has done a lot of research on his condition. His knowledge of neuroanatomy demonstrated in Part 2 of the book may put some doctors to shame. However, individuals who are only mildly interested in the subject may want to skip that part.

Though reading the book has not given me any "uplifting" experience as hoped by the author, I certainly find it highly entertaining and educational. No quakery, no sensational, miraculous claims and no vicious attacks on the system.

Though I have never suffered from stroke myself (until now), I'm definitely in a high risk profession. Andy's book is a reminder that we are all vulnerable in spite of our apparent fitness and good health.

I love finding a helpful book when I need one. Boucher's text on adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders is thoughtfully constructed, seems to have anticipated my informational needs, and is written in an understandable, yet content-rich style. She clarifies emotional and behavioral disorder concepts and educational strategies with many examples drawn from the lives of dozens of adolescents in discord. Thanks to the clarity of these illustrations, I better understand a wide variety of behaviors and recognize them when I see them. Most importantly, I now have some practical ideas for assisting these students when I meet them in my profession.

STUDENTS IN DISCORD is comprehensive, very reader-friendly, well organized, well researched, and highly practical. It is a very worthwhile book for a professional audience.

Sally Hobart Alexander touched the lives of twenty-four reluctant readers in a Connecticut high school English class. My class spent much of this spring exploring a variety of human challenges. Alexander's book was one of our sources, and the class was completely consumed by her story. The author drives home the idea that her loss of sight was the beginning of a powerful and personal journey that took her to the edge of human discovery. Never maudlin or self-indulgent, Alexander stares adversity square in its frightening face and wins! The book is a celebration of love and hope, and both students and teachers were inspired.

Sally Hobart Alexander touched the lives of twenty-four reluctant readers in a Connecticut high school English class. My class spent much of this spring exploring a variety of human challenges. Alexander's book was one of our sources, and the class was completely consumed by her story. The author drives home the idea that her loss of sight was the beginning of a powerful and personal journey that took her to the edge of human discovery. Never maudlin or self-indulgent, Alexander stares adversity square in its frightening face and wins! The book is a celebration of love and hope, and both students and teachers were inspired.

The authors discuss the legal rights of an individual with AD/HD in the workplace. They also look at the issue of matching oneself to the right job.

This is not a "let's sue them right away" type book. They prefer to find ways to work things out in less confrontational ways. However if all else fails, they explain how to proceed in the legal arena.

The book discusses when to disclose an AD/HD-related disability and when it might be prudent to be silent. It makes suggestions about simple accomadations that might make work easier for both employee and employer.

There may have been some changes in the law since this book first came out, but most of the general principals are the same.

Carol E. Watkins, M.D. Psychiatrist

Stories about people with learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder that illustrate good and not-so-good strategies for handling the many problems in the workplace, finding the right job, whether or not to tell people about your disability, handling trouble wisely, and being fired. The format of the "tales" makes easy reading.

From the Annotated Bibliography of Learning A Living; A Guide to Finding a Job and Planning a Career for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia by Dale S. Brown

Aphasia is an invisible disability. It has a profound impact on people's lives. This book is the first one I have seen that discusses the challenges of aphasia in the words of people who are living with it. If you are trying to wrap your head around the meaning of aphasia or want some insight into that world, read this book! It is written in plain English, free of jargon or professional language, with lots of life stories that illustrate the major points.

This book gave me the insight I yearned for in understanding what my sister was thinking and feeling since she cannot express it herself. The frustration felt on both sides (by the stroke victim and family, friends) by lack of communication is somewhat easied by the insight this book brings. I highly recommend it.

This book is one of my favorite books. I look forward to all the books when they come out. I love her books. Every time I read another sentence I fall more into the book.

Like when Scout got hit, I felt like I was watching it. THe author is very nice. She wrote me a letter on her spare time. Most wouldn't do that. I really like her
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Gosh,This book along with the rest of this series is just great ! The author has a way with words that enchants you into the book. This story follows Maggie,a girl going into 6th grade who hates school.But now all of a sudden she feels much better when her science teacher who is blind has a guide dog.They musn't have gotten to know each other very well because they are still having trouble adjusting to one another. Maggie gets to help the teacher and the dog adjust and feel how great it is to have a signifacant other to help you in life, and then they experience a horrible thing.Maggie cried,the teacher cried,the dog prolly cried,and I cried.She makes the story so real it feels ad if your in it. I really suggest this series to anyone,animal lover or not you can become one .

This book is a must-read for teachers and administrators faced with the demands of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. NCLB requires that all children progress in the general curriculum. Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age lays the theoretical groundwork and offers practical examples and recommendations on how digital technologies can be used to break down barriers to learning that impair the performance of many students.

Authors Rose and Meyer cite two converging dynamics at play that are helping eliminate such barriers: one is the discoveries of neural science that explain the great diversity in student learning; the other is the growth in digital technologies. As they see it, digitization makes possible a rich array of media that are beginning to match the complex of ways that students learn and express that learning.

Rose and Meyer urge material developers to follow principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Just as buildings today are designed to be accessible to all, without added ramps, so say the authors, educational materials should be created without barriers to content. If type is a barrier, alternative routes to content (such as audio, enlarged type, or shifts in foreground and background color) can and should be provided.

As I noted, this book has an excellent balance between theory and practice. It is supported by a rich Web site (http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent) and would make an excellent text for pre-service or in-service programs.

This book was required for a Master's class taken at U of I (IL). It will open your eyes as a teacher. I especially enjoyed the section that discusses Universal Design for Learning. The applictions were very practical. For those wanting to incorporate technology into their lesson plans, this book is for you. It focuses on how to do so for students of all learning types. A great reference book for the future.

A practicing psychologist for more than 30 years who evaluates and treats children, adolescents and adults for a variety of problems, Myles L. Cooley also draws upon his experience and expertise as a consultant to schools and as a presenter of education al programs to educators, mental health professionals, physicians, and parents in "Teaching Kids With Mental Health & Learning Disorders In The Regular Classroom". This basic and very strongly recommended instruction manual and guidebook is specifically designed to help classroom teachers learn how to recognize, understand and help challenged (and often challenging) students to learn and succeed academically. A compendium of practical and proven strategies educators can use when teaching and supporting students who exhibit mental health problems and learning disorder issues, "Teaching Kids With Mental Health & Learning Disorders In The Regular Classroom" will also alert teachers as to what behavior sand symptoms to look for in troubled students, provide ideas for fostering social development in these children, and how best to motivate all students to learn. Of special note is the discussion of the latest approach to intervention procedures, including Response to Intervention (RTI).

This book is written in a very user-friendly format for educators. Over twenty mental health and learning disorders are described in this book including symptoms, behaviors, classroom strategies,and professional treatments. Based on current research and educational trends, this is the perfect book to bring to IEP and Child Study meetings for practical and concise interventions. Teachers and counselors will not only find plenty of ideas on how to motivate their students with learning and mental health disorders but also how to apply effective teaching strategies with all students. As a school counselor who spends a great deal of time meeting with teachers and parents, this book has spent very little time on my bookshelf. A great tool!

There isn't a better resource on the market for practitioners than Masters, Mori, & Mori. The authors, all highly experienced the field, have written a book that is not only must reading for anyone in the field, but is a resource that must be in the library of every secondary school serving special needs youngsters and on the shelf of all secondary special educators. This book is in its third edition and each edition has added important up-to-date information. The book includes practical strategies in all important academic areas as well as timely information on career/vocational education and on transition. There is also an outstanding chapter on assessment, program administration, and meeting the social/emotional needs of adolescent students with mild disabilties.

The framework for teaching students with learning and behavior differences is presented and followed by practical strategies. If you are inclined to remediation it is covered, yet the real emphasis is learning strategies, vocational applications and compensatory devices including computers that students can write what they say. The authors make a point of preparing teachers a parents with the tools to allow a student with a disability tlevel the academic and employment playing fields. Every secondary teacher would benefit, however, the elementary teacher can obtain a view of where the student is heading. For special educators it is must reading.

Got the book on time. Helped me out because I did not have the book list for school until 3 days before classes started.
Thanks

This book is well-written and easy to read. It includes lots of examples of strategies for teachers. Highly recommended.